Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-12-13
To PRISON.
Quick Work with the Great
Bank Wrecker.
HARPER FOUND GUILTY,
AMI Sentenced to Ten Years in the
Penitentary.
AN AFFECTING SCENE IN COURT.
Prisoner Breaks Down and Weeps Like
Child-The Devoted Wife and Sister
Judge Sage InexOrable-Bldding
Farewell Removed to Prison.

F3reWell removed u fTiSOl,
CINCINNATI, December l2.-The great
est crowd that has ever gathered III the
corridors OF the United States Court room
assembled this morning long before the
time tor the assembling of the court.
1t was simply impossible for ladies to
get in at the public door, and only those
who had friends to show them the private
entrance could reach the court room
At 10 o'clock Judge Sage appeared
alone, Judge Jackson having been called
to hold court in Coyington. Court was
opened, and seven minutes later the jury
filed in. AS soon as they were seated,
Judge Sage asked il they had agreed upon
a verdict, and the foreman said they had,
The Judge directed the Clerk to receive
it. At this point Mr.. Blackburn called
the Courts attention TO the absence Of the
defendant.
LET him be brought in, said the
Judge
In two minutes Marshal Urner entered,
followed by Mr.. Harper, looking pale and
anxious. Behind him came his wife her
face study Ii looked as ii she was up
borne by Il faith that in some way she was
to hear good uews from the Jury. Miss
Mathews followed ~ calm as she could
compose herself to b.. When they were
seated the clerk took the sealed envelope
iuclosing the verdict, tore 1t open and read
the fatal wOrds we, the Jury, find the
defendant
GUuIN A. CHANGED
in the indictment This meant guilty 90
all the thirty three counts lett for the jury
to act upon.
There WAS no outcry from either Of the
women. Mrs Harper SIt as If transtNed,
but Miss Matthews found relief in tears
which she struggled with all her power to
repress.
Mr.. Blackburn moved an arrest OF iudg-
ment, which tie Court Instantly over
ruled. The District Attorney Burnet
moved for immediate sentence, and that
the sentence be cumulative.
judge Sage, in somewhat lengthy
opinion, stated tine result of his inyestiGa-
tion on the question of cumulative sen
teuCes in a case like this, and gave some
rSliet to the sudiennesS upon the blow
upon Mr.. Harp-r's family. The Judge
iualiy oyerruled the motion, and asked Il
the defendant had any thing TO say before
sentence WAS pronounced upon him.
Thanking the Court, Mr. Blackburn
aru4a aud said that the defendant wished
TO speak through him, ard to say that he
had nothing to add To what had been said,
except to thank the Court for its fair and
impartial treatment, and to ask that the
Court be- A. mercitul ~ the circumstances
and the law would permit.
HEARING THE SENTENCE.
At 1925 the Court directed Harper 10
stand up 1t was distressing scene. The
strong man stood erect, with tears coursing
down his cheeks, hut no other sign of emo
tion save his blanched face. Behind his
chair, with bowed head, sat his wife in ag
ony that had no better manifestation than
the wringiDg OF her hands. Tears did not
come to her relief. Miss Matthews, far
more demSnstratiSe, still represSed SOhs,
aud in her own distress reached over 10
try to comfort her sister by touch. So
they sat, while tue Court with impressive
sOlemuity recited the usual form of sen
teure, saying the evidence left no doubt OF
the defendants guilt and that the Otfense
merited the highest penalty Of the law,
which the Court would nOw impose, ten
wears in the Ohio Penitentiary and that
the marshal convey him thither at once.
Still no OutCry. Mr.. Harper sat down,
turning to his wife. Their lips met; her
| hands were
AROUND HIS NECK,
| his arms encOmpassed her. The silence
in the court room was oppressive. Jurors
wept, women and men all over the court
room were III tears.
The silence was broken 10y bIr. Black
burn making last request from the Court,
namely, that the order for immediate i'm
prisOnmcnt be suspended, giving rs rea-
| son that there was much business to be
attended TO by Mr.. Harper in which his
wife was closely concerned, and it would
/ be exceedingly difficult 10 attend to it un-
less Mr.. Harper could remain here for a
| few days.
But the Court was relentless. Judge
Sage said there would be opportunity for
! Harper's wife to see him in Columbus,
and lie repeated his order to the Marshal
TO convey him thither to-day.
After the scenes in the court room HAr-
per and his family spent some time in the
| Marshals office and then went to jail,
where he spent the afternoon in his room
| preparing for his departure. The bedding,
his trunk and other property were taKsSl
out and sent to his house. The family
Joined him snd he bade them goodbye.
Mrs. Harper fingered after the others had
| departed. and her farewell was spoken
with him alone. A moment afterwards
he appeared as upmoyed IS ever.
OFF To PRISON.
Shortly before four o'clock carriage ap-
peared at the Jail, into which Harper and
| the deputy marshals, kiersted and COstel-
| 10. entered and were driven to the Central
passenger depot, passing on the way his
/ late residence on Fourth street. There
was a small gathering OF people there to
see him enter the train, but the deputies
avoided the front entrance by going down
John street and entering the depot from
the west end. He was placed in parlor
car OF the Midland train, in the
smoking compartment, and the curtains
drawn. Here Miss Matthews Joined him,
accompanied by her father and her brother.
A crowd gathered about the car and
waited until the train moved out 4:05. 1t
has al been done rapidly. The trial be-
gan two weeks ago tomorrow. No time
was lost IN argument. The verdict was
given at 1909, the sentence at 1925 and
at As the great head of the once famous
Fidelity Bank WAS on his way to the Ohio
penitentisry at Columbus.
Harper was met at Columbus by an
audience OF about two hundred. These
consisted mainly of bank clerks and a
number of ladies. The party proceeded
| a. L. g Al